Pirate Bay co-founder Gottfrid Svartholm misses appeals court appearance for second time, found in Cambodian hospital

Gottfrid Svartholm, one of four co-founding members of the now-defunct Pirate Bay filesharing service, failed to show up in court today to appeal the 2009 ruling of criminal copyright infringement against him and his three co-founders. Separate appeals trials for the other three founders (Fredrik Neij, Peter Sunde, and Carl Lundström) ended in guilty verdicts in November 2010, but at the start of those trials, Svartholm also failed to show and the court decided to postpone his particular appeal. Neij, Sunde, and Lundström have vowed to appeal to Sweden’s Supreme Court, but without Svartholm, they can’t move forward. Svartholm has three more weeks to file for appeal again before the 2009 ruling will become final, resulting in $905,000 in damages due and a year’s worth of jail.

Though much mystery has swirled around the whereabouts of Mr. Svartholm, it turns out he’s been in a hospital in Cambodia. Based on his facial hair choices alone, one presumes he’s infiltrated the oft-overlooked Cambodian metal scene and was laying low before getting hurt while headbanging too aggressively at a show. Svartholm’s mother was supposed to travel to Southeast Asia to take care of and presumably oversee the safe transfer of her son back to Sweden for his hearing but failed to do so.

Meanwhile, Sunde and Neij recently launched Bayfiles.com, most likely to try and get some cash flowing via ‘legal’ channels in case their appeals continue to not go as planned.

Gottfrid Svartholm, one of four co-founding members of the now-defunct Pirate Bay filesharing service, failed to show up in court today to appeal the 2009 ruling of criminal copyright infringement against him and his three co-founders. Separate appeals trials for the other three founders (Fredrik Neij, Peter Sunde, and Carl Lundström) ended in guilty verdicts in November 2010, but at the start of those trials, Svartholm also failed to show and the court decided to postpone his particular appeal. Neij, Sunde, and Lundström have vowed to appeal to Sweden’s Supreme Court, but without Svartholm, they can’t move forward. Svartholm has three more weeks to file for appeal again before the 2009 ruling will become final, resulting in $905,000 in damages due and a year’s worth of jail.

Though much mystery has swirled around the whereabouts of Mr. Svartholm, it turns out he’s been in a hospital in Cambodia. Based on his facial hair choices alone, one presumes he’s infiltrated the oft-overlooked Cambodian metal scene and was laying low before getting hurt while headbanging too aggressively at a show. Svartholm’s mother was supposed to travel to Southeast Asia to take care of and presumably oversee the safe transfer of her son back to Sweden for his hearing but failed to do so.

Meanwhile, Sunde and Neij recently launched Bayfiles.com, most likely to try and get some cash flowing via ‘legal’ channels in case their appeals continue to not go as planned.

Do all indie rock labels really want to be hardcore labels? Would Merge be happier if they were actually Bridge Nine? What about Secretly Canadian, do they dream in their deepest dreams that they had Trustkill’s roster? Is Sub Pop sending subtle messages suggesting that Fleet Foxes just add a dang breakdown or two? Lord, I hope so. Sadly, if they truly house these glorious secret desires, they’re hiding it well. Matador Records, however, has no shame about such things, what with their signings of Fucked Up and Ceremony. Now, Matador-associated label True Panther is getting in on that sweet, sweet pit action by putting out an EP from Sacramento’s Trash Talk. That EP is called Awake and it will be out in 7-inch form on October 11 and will rip hard. I’m going out on a limb with that ripping hard business, but if it doesn’t actually rip hard, contact me and I will apologize a little bit.

That said, here is proof that at least 1/5 of the EP rips: the video for the release’s title track. The clip features a bounty of peaceful nature footage and space photos. It also features a lot of skateboarding and a guy breaking stuff. And it doesn’t feature any nature footage or space photos. Sorry for the confusion. Let me make it up to you by telling you about Trash Talk’s upcoming tourdates. There are two of those.

After just three shows across the country, the Rock the Bells tour didn’t quite satisfy, especially given that the last date in Boston was canceled altogether. For those who were only going to see Mos Def (er, Yasiin, rather) and Talib Kweli perform their classic Black Star album, good news awaits.

Turns out they haven’t had enough of each other, and have decided to come correct with a (re) definition of hip-hop. So check out the below dates, and see if Black Star will be swinging through to show you they’re ruling hip-hop.

Multidisciplinary artist Russell Haswell is planning to release two new LPs on Editions Mego, one of which will feature frequent collaborator, Mego regular, and TMT favorite Florian Hecker. The first of the two, titled Acid No!se Synthesis, is due October 25 and features Haswell’s improvisation on either modular synthesiser, computer, or electronics and pedals. According to Editions Mego, No!se was recorded and simultaneously monitored on a stereo/phase scope (for the visual aspect) and speakers or headphones (for the auditory side of things). They recommend that you have a similar experience with the record and also conclude on their website that this record “is not what you think it is.” So there. Get ready. The CD is packaged with a 16-page booklet with text and 15 vector oscillograms.

Following the CD’s release will be a collaborative vinyl LP with DVD featuring Florian Hecker due November 29, titled Kanal GENDYN. The LP includes recordings from 2004-2011. Both items are currently available for preorder from Editions Mego. Be sure to also check out preorders for Hive Mind and dieb13/Gustafsson/Siewert.

Four years and two albums into the gritty game that is NYC lo-fi, The Beets holed up for a grueling 48 hours and completed the recording of their upcoming release, Let the Poison Out. In addition to a new shiny drummer, Chie Mori, the follow-up to Stay Home will mark The Beets’ debut for Hardly Art. You also might want to send positive vibrations to Mr. Mori, since bassist Jose Garcia cautioned, “If this doesn’t work out, then no more Beets.” Told you — NYC lo-fi, the belly of the beast.

Get a taste of what’s to come here, in the form of “Doing As I Do,” an acoustic ditty that will have you humming in anticipation of the October 24 full-length, Let the Poison Out. The Jackson Heights crew will be giving you jangly sing-alongs live if you’re in the New York area.